The Quailblazer Times, Volume X, Issue #4

FYI: The photos and articles in this newsletter are best viewed on a computer screen or an iPad
But please use anything, we really want you to read it!
Read it with your children!

Dear Children's House families,

Happy new year to you all! I hope your families are doing well, healthy, and enjoying all life's gifts. We sure started off the school semester with a splash, pun intended. It was a wet and wild beginning to the new year and I hope you and your homes survived the storm unscathed. Again, thank you so much for your support as we navigated those crazy days.

Things have calmed down here considerably and the children are settled into their work and their friendships. It is a joy to see. I always say how much I love January when the children are so ready to be back. They show such enthusiasm toward the work they are ready to tackle and we see such huge growth during this time of year.

Conferences are in full swing and again, we appreciate that you can make other arrangements for "Conference Day" so the teachers have that extra time to meet with each of you. It is so wonderful to have this important opportunity to gush about your child(ren). I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

A shout-out to all our parent volunteers who provide so very much to our school. We have an incredible group of moms who came to me, asking if they could revamp our school library and they have been amazing. It is in the finishing stages and I can't wait for you all to visit. Thank you, in advance for your support with our big BOOK SALE next week. It is a win-win for everyone and will provide a fresh start to our "new" library!

Meanwhile, we have a record number of parents who have joined our Auction Committee! We had our first meeting and the enthusiasm is infectious! Mark your calendar for May 6th as you will not want to miss this fun-filled event!

For now, however, enjoy this month's Quailblazer and everything the children and staff are sharing. Thank you for all you do for your children and for Children's House.
Stay warm and well,

Korey

Parent/Teacher
Conferences
Monday-Friday: January 23-27th
No School on Friday, Jan. 27th

Children's House families and friends...
Our book sale is next week and we'd love your used book donations! All proceeds will go toward updating our library's book collection with fresh books for all ages. Please bring any and all used books (both children and adults) to the coffee shop and leave them in the bin. And come shop at our book sale before and after school all next week, Jan. 30 thru Feb. 3!

Thank you in advance for your support!

After the vacation days of Winter Break your children were more than ready to be back in the Toddler Classroom, exploring the new work we put out over the break. We missed them so much and it has been so fun for us to see each of them come back so excited to learn!

Lots of "big work" going on in Primary!

SCHOOL IS CLOSED

Friday, February 17, 2023
in observance of
Lincoln's Birthday

and

Monday, February 20, 2023
in observance of
President's Day

The framework of Montessori education, the 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12-year-old planes of development, are grouped by sensitive periods of learning. Learning within these groupings is fostered and enhanced by many factors- most notably the interlevel mentoring between classmates. What is often overlooked are the mentoring opportunities between children of different planes- something our school recognizes in the buddy system between older and younger schoolmates. While the children in the 3-6 plane have only toddlers (not the most receptive demographic) to mentor and the Upper Elementary students have no Erdkinder program (ages 12-15) to guide them, we in Lower El get to mentor AND be mentored. We’re constantly discussing what skills we can coach, what concepts we can teach, and what behavior we should role model when we interact with our younger buddies. And we pair up as much as possible with our UE friends to receive valuable tips on how to make timelines for a Historical Biography, create an informative country display for the Culture Fair, and much more. And every month they give us great feedback and pointers at our monthly Book Project Fairs. We consider them experts because (for most of them) they faced these challenges and mastered these skills in their three years in Lower El. And they are such great mentors because they remember the big kids who helped them through their own Lower El struggles. Their time with us is fleeting and always valued.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

Click on the picture below to read the story.

from the Upper Elementary:

"Nearly 6-pound 'Toadzilla' found in Australia breaks the record for largest toad!"